Support for Kathy Dann!

Hi. This account is being opened on behalf of our family, for my in laws, Kathy and Timothy Dann, who are struggling in every way imaginable after receiving devastating health news. My mother in law is one of the most beautiful, giving, kindhearted, individuals I know and she could use all the prayers and help anyone has to offer. Her symptoms started back in March were she suffered from headaches and would have days of feeling fatigued, weak, dizzy, and nauseous and then days were she would start feeling better. It wasn’t until she started throwing up that it became evident the episodes were not going away and she needed to be evaluated by a doctor. Our worst fears came to light on March 24th. The scans showed a mass on her brain and masses in both her lungs which had also wrapped itself around her bronchial tubes. Biopsy would later confirm a diagnosis of small cell carcinoma. For those who don’t know, small cell carcinoma is a type of lung cancer that is very aggressive. Therefore, it needs to be treated aggressively. Radiation treatment started within days of being in the hospital before the biopsy results were even back. Since then, she has also received one round of chemotherapy. She is currently back in the hospital because her blood pressure and levels (several, like potassium, protein, WBCs, etc.) were so low from not being able to eat or drink for weeks. The radiation has caused so much damage to her throat and esophagus she can hardly swallow her own saliva; the pain has been excruciating. Tomorrow, she will have a feeding tube placed. Since the diagnosis, she has been in and out of the hospital; they have had to travel to and from Petoskey for appointments, treatments, and infusions pretty much daily. Both of my in laws are currently not working and without health insurance because they were both laid off by the Tissue plant several months ago; their Medicaid application was denied. Keeping up on the monthly household expenses were difficult before all of this. Now they not only have the added expense of medical bills, supplies, prescriptions, and travel, but the day to day stress of her medical condition and worry on whether they will be able to afford basic necessities. These are added stresses we wish they didn’t have to bear. If you can help in any way, our family would be forever grateful! And we of course welcome all the thoughts and prayers anyone can send our way as well! Thank you.